Ethical Priorities

"Terrance McArthur does not deserve severance pay of any amount, and the idea of severance for a convicted child sex offender is reprehensible We strongly urge [the band] council to modify their policies and take back the severance pay."
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt press secretary

Saskatchewan First Nation Chief Terry McArthur of the Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation will be serving nine months in jail for having sexually assaulted a young girl. He had, at the very least, the decency to plead guilty sparing the teenager the need to relive the assault through a court of law requiring her presence as a primary witness. Decency in this context is most certainly a relative concept given his actions that led to the charge.

It would appear that the band council reached their decision to pay the former chief $47,625 representing severance and the balance of his term salary. In gratitude that he has finally agreed to step aside from his position, presumably. After pleading guilty to the charge laid against him in May he repeatedly refused to resign his position as band chief despite demands from community members. How he might have thought it feasible to carry on as though he had never disgraced his office is insane.

The band council, however, was prevailed upon to re-think their decision to hand over almost $48,000 of band operating expenses. "We thought we could afford it. Now, looking back at our finances right now, this is something that we cannot afford and we have already stated that we will not be paying him severance", said tribal councillor Gaylene McArthur. She stressed the band has also not paid any of the former chief's legal bills.

"We did not put any dollars towards any part of former chief Terrence McArthur's court case, either be it lawyer, bail or whatever ... and our books will prove it ... when we release our audit for 2014", she further explained, obviously stung by the criticism the band council had received, from critics outside the band and even louder ones from within by outraged band members of the 400-member tribal band.

Sympathy was extended from some quarters for the fact that the former chief and his family "have been threatened and attacked if he does not resign immediately", before his eventual resignation on July 30.  The band council also mentioned the unfortunate but predictable occurrences whereby some band members "have viciously slandered" the chief through the media. How a convicted sex offender attempting advantage of a 16-year-old girl from his position of trust could be viciously slandered beyond his own choice of conduct is a puzzler.
"Whereas, Chief Terrance McArthur has been slandered it is now difficult for him to carry out his public duties", read the release under legal advice by the band council when they originally advised they would be paying the former chief severance. As though he hadn't committed a gross breach of decency in the assault of a minor, his atrocious action earning him the enmity and contempt of the band. Whose disgust for his gross stupidity would have led to their public and published condemnation. 

Abby Ulmer, a councillor at the Regina Sexual Assault Centre, stated the positive aspect of a guilty plea saves the victim from having to testify. But the idea of severance sends a strange message. "I know that people often would see that as a totally separate issue, that because he was chief he's entitled to severance or this, that or the other thing. But I just think it really sends a confusing message to people, almost like 'OK, I've pleaded guilty to this, but meanwhile I'm going to get a large payout'."

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation can always be relied upon to critique such absurdities staining the public record. "We always stress that there's lots of good communities out there where this type of thing isn't happening, but certainly when you hear of someone getting a $47,000 severance payment to go and sit in jail, it just makes no sense whatsoever", said Colin Craig.

What appears to have escaped the notice of the band council is the well-earned anger of many within the Pheasant Rump Nakota band. No one should be rewarded for committing a base offence against any member of the band. Assaults against vulnerable women and children should be denounced for the grave human rights abuse they represent. Anyone who commits such abuse should be rightfully denounced, should face justice.

That consideration first and foremost as stated, is the condition of band finances leading to the withdrawal of the initial decision to pay the chief what under ordinary circumstances he would be owed, represents an erroneous presumption of ethical priorities. The charge laid against Chief McArthur represents a serious offence whose commission and his guilty plea should have automatically disqualified him from his position and from monetary recompense.